US6246174B1 - Device for controlling the brightness of an instrumentation light of an automobile - Google Patents

Device for controlling the brightness of an instrumentation light of an automobile Download PDF

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Publication number
US6246174B1
US6246174B1 US09/529,283 US52928300A US6246174B1 US 6246174 B1 US6246174 B1 US 6246174B1 US 52928300 A US52928300 A US 52928300A US 6246174 B1 US6246174 B1 US 6246174B1
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United States
Prior art keywords
brightness
output signal
electro
optical transducer
motor vehicle
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Expired - Fee Related
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US09/529,283
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Bernd Hürtgen
Werner Pöchmüller
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Robert Bosch GmbH
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Robert Bosch GmbH
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Assigned to ROBERT BOSCH GMBH reassignment ROBERT BOSCH GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: POCHMULLER, WERNER, HURTGEN, BERND
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
    • B60Q3/10—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors for dashboards
    • B60Q3/16—Circuits; Control arrangements
    • B60Q3/18—Circuits; Control arrangements for varying the light intensity
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
    • F21V23/04—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
    • F21V23/0442—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
    • F21V23/0464—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
    • B60Y2400/00—Special features of vehicle units
    • B60Y2400/30—Sensors
    • B60Y2400/301—Sensors for position or displacement
    • B60Y2400/3015—Optical cameras
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2106/00—Interior vehicle lighting devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for controlling the brightness of dashboard lights in a motor vehicle, in which an electro-optical transducer aligned in the direction of travel changes the light intensity of the dashboard lights, using the output signal, as a finction of the ambient brightness in front of the vehicle, and the output signal of the electro-optical transducer, which is weighted by an evaluation unit using predefined algorithms, being supplied to a control unit for influencing the brightness of the dashboard lights.
  • a device for controlling the brightness of dashboard lights is described in German Published Patent Application No. 32 45 299.
  • a photodetector is used as an electro-optical transducer, which is joined to the windshield of the motor vehicle by a fiber-optic guide.
  • the photodetector detects the brightness of the ambient range in front of the motor vehicle.
  • the output signal of the photodetector which is weighted by a microprocessor using predefined algorithms, is supplied to a control unit for changing the brightness of the dashboard lights.
  • the brightness of the ambient range in front of the motor vehicle is only approximately monitored by this device, meaning that the change in brightness of the dashboard lights is inadequate, especially when there are objects driving ahead or objects located in the ambient range.
  • a similar device having a phototransistor as an electro-optical transducer is described in German Published Patent Application No. 44 09 777.
  • the analog output signal of the phototransistor is converted into a digital signal, and the characteristic curve of the phototransistor is compensated for by a processing device in such a manner, that a signal proportional to the ambient brightness is acquired for changing the brightness of the dashboard lights.
  • Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 60 24 0545 describes a device for automatically switching the headlights of a vehicle on and off, when it drives into and out of a tunnel.
  • the change in the brightness in front of the vehicle is monitored using an image-processing sensor, e.g. a CCD camera, and the change is used by an evaluation and control unit for switching the headlights.
  • an image-processing sensor e.g. a CCD camera
  • a CCD camera for controlling the brightness of the dashboard lights is not suitable as an electro-optical transducer, since the CCD camera has a small dynamic range and does not allow an absolute determination of brightness. An absolute determination of brightness would only be attainable by aperture and illumination-time regulation, which, however, can never be exactly determined.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a device in which the absolute ambient brightness in front of the motor vehicle is detected and used for optimally adjusting the brightness of the dashboard lights.
  • CMOS image-processing sensor used as an electro-optical sensor and having a non-linear conversion characteristic, decreases with increasing incident light.
  • the output signal of the image-processing sensor can also be weighted using suitable object-detection algorithms. For example, this can prevent a truck painted in a dark color from causing the ambient-brightness signal to be too small.
  • Additional sensors Lidar Radar
  • FIG. 1 shows a section along the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle with the positioning of the image sensor.
  • FIG. 2 shows the nonlinear conversion characteristic of the image sensor.
  • FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the device for controlling the brightness of the dashboard lights
  • An image sensor 2 (camera) is arranged in the interior of a motor vehicle 1 in the upper area behind the windshield.
  • the space behind the rearview mirror (not shown) which is mounted in this area is preferably used for this purpose.
  • Image sensor 2 points in the direction of vehicle travel and detects the conical traffic zone in front of motor vehicle 1 as indicated.
  • Image sensor 2 is composed of multiple individual sensors for measuring the absolute brightness of the detected traffic zone in a location-selective manner.
  • image sensor 2 has a nonlinear conversion characteristic. With an increase in light signal L, there is also an increase in voltage U or current I delivered, but slope ⁇ U/ ⁇ L or ⁇ I/ ⁇ L decreases. This leads to implementation of a highly dynamic image sensor 2 . With a technically limited voltage or current range, a large brightness range can be imaged. It is especially advantageous to use an image sensor with a logarithmic conversion characteristic, because then the contrast resolution is constant over a brightness range of multiple decades.
  • Image sensor 2 supplies an electric “surface” image signal to an analyzer unit 3 which analyzes the image signal with the goal of measuring the ambient brightness.
  • the ambient brightness signal or a dashboard brightness signal derived from it is relayed over a bus line 8 to a control unit 4 which controls dashboard lights 5 .
  • Analyzer unit 3 can weight the image signal of image sensor 2 according to preselected algorithms of object detection and use it for a suitably adjusted control of dashboard lights 5 .
  • Additional sensors 6 optionally provided for object detection or for other functions send additional information for adjusting the control signals for control unit 4 of dashboard lights 5 over a bus line 8 of analyzer unit 3 .
  • Sensors 6 may be used for object detection and for detection of the condition of the vehicle lighting.

Abstract

A device for controlling the brightness of dashboard lights in a motor vehicle is described, where an optoelectric receiver adjusts the light intensity of the dashboard lights with the output signal as a function of ambient brightness. To obtain an automatic measurement of the ambient brightness distribution in the direction of vehicle travel, taking into account the brightness in certain regions in the vicinity of the vehicle, an image sensor pointing in the direction of vehicle travel is provided as an optoelectric receiver to perform a location-selective absolute brightness measurement, and its electric output signal, weighted with preselected or preselectable algorithms for determining ambient brightness by an analyzer unit, so it can be sent to a control unit to influence the brightness of the dashboard lights.

Description

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The present invention relates to a device for controlling the brightness of dashboard lights in a motor vehicle, in which an electro-optical transducer aligned in the direction of travel changes the light intensity of the dashboard lights, using the output signal, as a finction of the ambient brightness in front of the vehicle, and the output signal of the electro-optical transducer, which is weighted by an evaluation unit using predefined algorithms, being supplied to a control unit for influencing the brightness of the dashboard lights.
A device for controlling the brightness of dashboard lights is described in German Published Patent Application No. 32 45 299. In this case, a photodetector is used as an electro-optical transducer, which is joined to the windshield of the motor vehicle by a fiber-optic guide. In this manner, the photodetector detects the brightness of the ambient range in front of the motor vehicle. The output signal of the photodetector, which is weighted by a microprocessor using predefined algorithms, is supplied to a control unit for changing the brightness of the dashboard lights. The brightness of the ambient range in front of the motor vehicle is only approximately monitored by this device, meaning that the change in brightness of the dashboard lights is inadequate, especially when there are objects driving ahead or objects located in the ambient range.
A similar device having a phototransistor as an electro-optical transducer is described in German Published Patent Application No. 44 09 777. The analog output signal of the phototransistor is converted into a digital signal, and the characteristic curve of the phototransistor is compensated for by a processing device in such a manner, that a signal proportional to the ambient brightness is acquired for changing the brightness of the dashboard lights.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 60 24 0545 describes a device for automatically switching the headlights of a vehicle on and off, when it drives into and out of a tunnel. In this case, the change in the brightness in front of the vehicle is monitored using an image-processing sensor, e.g. a CCD camera, and the change is used by an evaluation and control unit for switching the headlights.
A CCD camera for controlling the brightness of the dashboard lights is not suitable as an electro-optical transducer, since the CCD camera has a small dynamic range and does not allow an absolute determination of brightness. An absolute determination of brightness would only be attainable by aperture and illumination-time regulation, which, however, can never be exactly determined.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a device in which the absolute ambient brightness in front of the motor vehicle is detected and used for optimally adjusting the brightness of the dashboard lights.
This object is achieved by the present invention, in that a logarithmic CMOS image-processing sensor used as an electro-optical sensor and having a non-linear conversion characteristic, decreases with increasing incident light.
An extreme dynamic range is achieved by this new image-processing sensor having a non-linear conversion characteristic, which will allow a large brightness range to be imaged in a technically limited voltage or current range.
In this context, the output signal of the image-processing sensor can also be weighted using suitable object-detection algorithms. For example, this can prevent a truck painted in a dark color from causing the ambient-brightness signal to be too small. Additional sensors (Lidar Radar) can also acquire information about an object, which is supplied to the evaluating unit and used in the above-described manner for controlling the brightness of the dashboard lights.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a section along the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle with the positioning of the image sensor.
FIG. 2 shows the nonlinear conversion characteristic of the image sensor.
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the device for controlling the brightness of the dashboard lights
An image sensor 2 (camera) is arranged in the interior of a motor vehicle 1 in the upper area behind the windshield. The space behind the rearview mirror (not shown) which is mounted in this area is preferably used for this purpose. Image sensor 2 points in the direction of vehicle travel and detects the conical traffic zone in front of motor vehicle 1 as indicated. Image sensor 2 is composed of multiple individual sensors for measuring the absolute brightness of the detected traffic zone in a location-selective manner.
As FIG. 2 shows, image sensor 2 has a nonlinear conversion characteristic. With an increase in light signal L, there is also an increase in voltage U or current I delivered, but slope ΔU/ΔL or ΔI/ΔL decreases. This leads to implementation of a highly dynamic image sensor 2. With a technically limited voltage or current range, a large brightness range can be imaged. It is especially advantageous to use an image sensor with a logarithmic conversion characteristic, because then the contrast resolution is constant over a brightness range of multiple decades.
Image sensor 2 supplies an electric “surface” image signal to an analyzer unit 3 which analyzes the image signal with the goal of measuring the ambient brightness. The ambient brightness signal or a dashboard brightness signal derived from it is relayed over a bus line 8 to a control unit 4 which controls dashboard lights 5. Analyzer unit 3 can weight the image signal of image sensor 2 according to preselected algorithms of object detection and use it for a suitably adjusted control of dashboard lights 5. Additional sensors 6 optionally provided for object detection or for other functions send additional information for adjusting the control signals for control unit 4 of dashboard lights 5 over a bus line 8 of analyzer unit 3. Sensors 6 may be used for object detection and for detection of the condition of the vehicle lighting.

Claims (3)

What is claimed is:
1. A device for controlling a brightness of a dashboard light in a motor vehicle, comprising:
an electro-optical transducer aligned in a direction of travel and for producing an output signal that changes a light intensity of the dashboard light as a function of an ambient brightness in front of the motor vehicle, wherein:
the electro-optical transducer includes a logarithmic CMOS image-processing sensor having a non-linear conversion characteristic, and
the CMOS image-processing sensor produces a decrease in the output signal of the electro-optical transducer as an increase occurs in an incident light signal;
an evaluation unit for weighting the output signal of the electro-optical transducer in accordance with predefined algorithms; and
a control unit supplied with the output signal of the electro-optical transducer for influencing the brightness of the dashboard light.
2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of additional sensors for providing further information to the evaluation unit.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein:
the CMOS image-processing sensor is positioned between a windshield of the motor vehicle and a rearview mirror mounted at a top of the windshield at a location approximately in a middle of the windshield.
US09/529,283 1997-10-10 1998-10-09 Device for controlling the brightness of an instrumentation light of an automobile Expired - Fee Related US6246174B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19744922 1997-10-10
DE19744922A DE19744922C2 (en) 1997-10-10 1997-10-10 Device for controlling the brightness of a dashboard lighting of a motor vehicle
PCT/DE1998/002988 WO1999019167A1 (en) 1997-10-10 1998-10-09 Device for controlling the brightness of an instrumentation light of an automobile

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US6246174B1 true US6246174B1 (en) 2001-06-12

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US (1) US6246174B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1021312B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2001519553A (en)
KR (1) KR20010024446A (en)
DE (2) DE19744922C2 (en)
WO (1) WO1999019167A1 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030122810A1 (en) * 2001-12-31 2003-07-03 Tsirkel Aaron M. Method and apparatus to adjust the brightness of a display screen
KR20050006913A (en) * 2003-07-10 2005-01-17 현대자동차주식회사 System for detecting fog for vehicle and method for the same
US20070024467A1 (en) * 2005-07-28 2007-02-01 Fujitsu Limited Roadway type judgment method and apparatus
US20080246595A1 (en) * 2007-04-03 2008-10-09 Daniel William Sanders Lane guide for motor vehicles
US20180170254A1 (en) * 2016-12-20 2018-06-21 Continental Automotive Gmbh Method and device for controlling a lamp for ambient light in an interior space of a vehicle

Families Citing this family (14)

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DE19921997A1 (en) * 1999-05-12 2000-11-16 Volkswagen Ag Control of dashboard display brightness in a vehicle by use of video cameras (with one pointing in the direction of travel) that provide a signal proportional to outside brightness that is used by a controller to adjust brightness
DE10008888B4 (en) * 2000-02-25 2006-01-19 Audi Ag instrument cluster
DE10323560B4 (en) * 2003-05-26 2010-12-02 Robert Bosch Gmbh Camera and device for determining the brightness of the surroundings of a motor vehicle
DE10340028B4 (en) * 2003-08-28 2009-07-09 Continental Automotive Gmbh display device
DE102004041504B4 (en) * 2004-08-27 2006-06-14 Audi Ag Brightness sensor for a display device of a motor vehicle
KR101015968B1 (en) * 2008-12-16 2011-02-23 대한민국 Holder for goat artificial insemination
DE102009054138A1 (en) * 2009-11-20 2011-05-26 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Method for operating display unit in vehicle, involves producing measuring signal by brightness sensor, and activating night-display-view or day-display-view of display device in dependent of measuring signal of brightness sensor
DE102012011168A1 (en) * 2012-06-06 2013-12-12 GM Global Technology Operations, LLC (n.d. Ges. d. Staates Delaware) Display device in dashboard mounted in motor car, has dial plate which is provided with polarization filter whose polarization direction opposite to polarization direction of windshield is aligned with reflected polarized light
DE102012016290B4 (en) * 2012-08-16 2023-11-23 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Method, operating device and system for adjusting the brightness of a display for a vehicle
DE102013212877A1 (en) 2013-07-02 2015-01-08 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for determining the condition of a motor vehicle driver
DE102014012758A1 (en) 2014-08-27 2016-03-03 GM Global Technology Operations LLC (n. d. Ges. d. Staates Delaware) Device for controlling the brightness of a light source
DE102015013748A1 (en) 2015-10-23 2016-04-21 Daimler Ag Method for measuring optimization of the performance of a driver
JP6436113B2 (en) 2016-02-15 2018-12-12 マツダ株式会社 Vehicle lighting control device
DE102018207388B4 (en) * 2018-05-14 2024-03-28 Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH Method and device for generating a display image in a motor vehicle

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030122810A1 (en) * 2001-12-31 2003-07-03 Tsirkel Aaron M. Method and apparatus to adjust the brightness of a display screen
KR20050006913A (en) * 2003-07-10 2005-01-17 현대자동차주식회사 System for detecting fog for vehicle and method for the same
US20070024467A1 (en) * 2005-07-28 2007-02-01 Fujitsu Limited Roadway type judgment method and apparatus
US7634107B2 (en) * 2005-07-28 2009-12-15 Fujitsu Limited Roadway type judgment method and apparatus
US20080246595A1 (en) * 2007-04-03 2008-10-09 Daniel William Sanders Lane guide for motor vehicles
US20180170254A1 (en) * 2016-12-20 2018-06-21 Continental Automotive Gmbh Method and device for controlling a lamp for ambient light in an interior space of a vehicle

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Publication number Publication date
KR20010024446A (en) 2001-03-26
DE19744922C2 (en) 1999-12-09
DE59809506D1 (en) 2003-10-09
EP1021312B1 (en) 2003-09-03
DE19744922A1 (en) 1999-04-15
EP1021312A1 (en) 2000-07-26
JP2001519553A (en) 2001-10-23
WO1999019167A1 (en) 1999-04-22

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